School Begins

At dawn, when the first ray of sunlight streamed through the window, Tang Wuyang opened his eyes as well.

A night of Meditation left Tang Wuyang feeling refreshed, and his Soul Power seemed to have improved slightly, though he still had not caught up to his older brother, Tang Wulin.

After reaching Level Ten, Tang Wuyang could clearly feel that the speed at which his Soul Power increased had quickened somewhat.

However, after advancing to become a Soul Master, the amount of Soul Power required for each level had undoubtedly increased as well.

Just as Tang Wuyang was about to get out of bed, Xie Xie across from him had somehow emerged from his Meditation state too.

Their eyes met, and Xie Xie's gaze turned cold.

Tang Wuyang expressionlessly got out of bed and headed straight for the bathroom.

In his eyes, Xie Xie was the kind of rich city kid who was arrogant, overbearing, and looked down on everyone.

Tang Wuyang would rather be friends with Zhou Changxi than pay any attention to someone like Xie Xie.

By the time he came out after washing up, Tang Wulin had just climbed down from the upper bunk.

Once Tang Wulin had finished washing up as well, the two prepared to do one of the most important things in the brothers' hearts: eat!

What Tang Wuyang and Tang Wulin did not know was that yesterday's bun battle had already earned the brothers nicknames before school had even officially begun: the legendary food buckets, and the even more formidable food vats...

Since they had arrived early, there were not many people in the cafeteria yet.

Breakfast, like yesterday's dinner, was divided into three categories: A, B, and C.

Tang Wuyang and Tang Wulin ignored the first two windows and naturally headed over to the Meal C counter.

Though Meal C was free, it was still quite plentiful, with milk, bread, sausages, vegetables, and fruit.

Tang Wuyang and Tang Wulin each piled a large plate full. Though both plates were large, Tang Wuyang's clearly held a little more than Tang Wulin's.

The two found an empty table for four and began wiping out the food that covered the entire tabletop before them.

The cafeteria worker serving meals already recognized the two. At first, he had been worried that the children would eat themselves sick, but seeing them now, it was clear he had worried for nothing.

While the two were burying themselves in food, Xie Xie arrived at the cafeteria as well.

Like Tang Wuyang and Tang Wulin, he did not even look at the other two windows. However, he headed straight for the Meal A counter and came away with a plate of food.

On the surface, it did not seem much different from Tang Wuyang and Tang Wulin's Meal C.

But upon closer inspection, one would find that while both had milk, Xie Xie's was not cow's milk, but milk from a domesticated Soul Beast. The other foods also each had their own origins, and their nutritional value was clearly far greater than that of Meal C.

Of course, compared to Tang Wuyang and Tang Wulin, Xie Xie's appetite was worlds apart.

Xie Xie sat far away from the Tang Wuyang and Tang Wulin brothers, each eating the food before them. Xie Xie occasionally glanced their way, while Tang Wuyang and Tang Wulin completely ignored his gaze and focused solely on the breakfast in front of them.

As time passed, more and more students entered the cafeteria.

As the crowd grew, quite a few people began pointing at the brothers and whispering, just as they had the previous evening.

After breakfast, the students followed the academy's instructions and gathered in Eastsea Academy's plaza.

Only at this time each year did the Advanced Department and Intermediate Department gather in full.

Tang Wuyang and Tang Wulin stood within the new student formation. They were considered quite tall among the freshmen.

Thus, the brothers stood one in front of the other, side by side near the rear of the formation.

From this position, they could take in all the academy's students at a glance.

On the Intermediate Department side, each grade had roughly a hundred students. With six grades combined, there were around seven to eight hundred people.

The upper grades had far fewer people, less than two hundred in total, and it was said they were divided among three grades.

From this, it was clear just how difficult it was to advance from the Intermediate Department to the Advanced Department.

"Hello, students. Today is Eastsea Academy's annual opening ceremony."

"Now, let us welcome Headmaster Yu to speak."

Eastsea Academy's headmaster was an elderly man who looked to be in his sixties. His hair was graying, his build was average, and he wore glasses. He did not look particularly remarkable, carrying himself with the air of a refined scholar.

"Hello, students!"

"At this time every year, I cannot help but feel a little emotional."

"Because whenever the opening ceremony arrives, it means that another group of students from the Intermediate Department and Advanced Department will graduate and leave the academy."

"But at the same time, some students advance from the Intermediate Department into the Advanced Department, and new students join us."

"In my view, the academy is like the Federation's hematopoietic system, continuously supplying the Federation with outstanding talent."

"In the future, I hope that you too will be able to..."

This headmaster was quite eloquent. Though he had no written speech, he still spoke with great feeling and did not gradually conclude until a full quarter of an hour later.

After the headmaster finished speaking came the most important part of the opening ceremony: class assignments.

Upper-grade students who did not need class assignments could leave first, while Advanced Department freshmen headed to the Advanced Department campus for their assignments.

Thus, the only ones remaining were the newly enrolled first-year freshmen of the Intermediate Department.

"Next is the final item of the opening ceremony: class assignments."

"As everyone knows, at Eastsea Academy, the smaller the class number, the more outstanding the students in that class are."

"However, this is not absolute. We hope that classes ranked lower can also work hard and catch up."

"This year, there are a total of one hundred and nine freshmen, divided into five classes."

"Next, those whose names I call will step out and enter Class One..."

Hearing Long Hengxu's words, Tang Wuyang and Tang Wulin finally understood why placing Xie Xie, Zhou Changxi, and Yun Xiao in Class Five had been a punishment for the three of them.

There were five classes in total. The earlier the class, the higher the students' talent and strength. Accordingly, the students of Class Five were undoubtedly the weakest.

"Tang Wulin, Tang Wuyang, Xie Xie, Zhou Changxi, Yun Xiao..."

Sure enough, when the Class Five roster was read, the five names were called out one after another, and they were the first names announced.

Class Five had only twenty-one students in total, the fewest of all five classes.

Most of the students assigned to Class Five looked like frostbitten eggplants, utterly dispirited.

"Now, the homeroom teachers of each class will take their students back to the classrooms and familiarize them with the academy."

The five teachers who had been standing to one side all walked toward their respective classes.

Naturally, one of them slowly made his way toward Class Five.

This teacher looked to be only twenty-seven or twenty-eight years old. When the Class Five students saw him, their previous disappointment and silence turned into stunned amazement.

Because this teacher was simply too handsome.

Though Tang Wuyang, Tang Wulin, and Xie Xie were all strikingly good-looking as well, they were still children whose features had not fully matured.

This teacher, however, was an adult, over one meter ninety tall, with long ape-like arms, a lean waist, and a pair of long legs clad in white trousers.

He looked somewhat lean, but his eyes were bright and spirited. He had a high nose bridge, appropriately thin lips, and an unusually upright bearing.

His long hair cascaded behind his back. When the wind blew, it revealed that his lake-blue hair actually reached all the way to his waist.

His eyes were dark green, matching his blue hair and giving him an unusual air.

At that moment, his expression was blank and his gaze cold.

A female student from Class Five could not help swooning as she murmured softly, "Teacher is so handsome!"

Though her voice was not loud, the students were all Soul Masters and could still hear her clearly. Her words undoubtedly voiced the thoughts of most of them.

Xie Xie, however, was completely different from the students around him. He curled his lip, looking utterly dismissive.

"Follow me!" The young teacher spoke only three simple words, yet they sent a chill through every student.

It was a chill that came from the depths of their hearts. Some of the more timid students immediately looked at him with fear in their eyes after sensing the coldness radiating from him.

Yun Xiao, who did not stand out much in the formation, looked at the teacher who would guide him for the next six years and muttered, "Teacher seems really strong."

His mere presence made people feel the coldness of his aura. That was not something an ordinary person could achieve.

Class Five's classroom was on the first floor, but it was located at the very innermost end, requiring the longest walk.

There were thirty sets of desks and chairs in the classroom, with the podium naturally positioned at the front.

"Take your seats." The young teacher said coldly.

Every time he spoke, the students felt the same thing: so cold!

Tang Wulin chose a seat near the window. Since he was tall, only by sitting at the side could he sit a little closer to the front.

Seeing this, Tang Wuyang sat directly behind his older brother.

For some reason, Xie Xie sat directly beside Tang Wuyang, while Zhou Changxi also inexplicably sat beside Tang Wulin, in front of Xie Xie. The four roommates ended up sitting together.

Yun Xiao, who had already interacted with the four of them, sat in the first row of their column, directly in front of Tang Wulin.

The young teacher walked behind the podium. His gaze merely swept over the students, and those who had been whispering immediately fell silent.

"My name is Wu Changkong!" the young teacher said flatly. "For the next six years, you will all be my students."

"First, I need to emphasize one thing: pretend you never heard what Director Long Hengxu said earlier."

"Even if you are a bunch of trash, I will make you the strongest among your peers."

"Unless you withdraw from the academy, this will be your goal from now on."

With a calm tone, he spoke wildly arrogant words, instantly drawing the entire class's attention.

"Next, introduce yourselves. Your name, Martial Soul, Soul Power Level, and future goal. You must state all of it."

"You, start."

Tang Wuyang and Tang Wulin were seated in the row closest to the side, and the direction Wu Changkong pointed toward was precisely theirs.

Therefore, Yun Xiao, seated in the first row, naturally became the first person to introduce himself.

"Hello, everyone. My name is Yun Xiao. My Martial Soul is the Star Disk, and I have Level Twelve Soul Power. My goal is to become an intelligent support-type Battle Soul Master."

Though Yun Xiao was the first, he reacted quickly. Though his voice trembled slightly, he gave his introduction with composure.

After him, it was Tang Wulin's turn.

Tang Wulin stood up, and Wu Changkong's gaze fell directly upon him.

Now that he was on the receiving end of it, he finally understood why Yun Xiao's voice had trembled earlier.

Wu Changkong's gaze was simply too sharp, as if it could pierce right through a person.

"I am Tang Wulin. My Martial Soul is Blue Silver Grass, and I have Level Twelve Soul Power. My goal..." Tang Wulin paused suddenly. "I do not have a goal yet."

Someone beside him muttered, "A Useless Martial Soul. Of course he has no goal."

Whoosh!

A piece of chalk flew like a Soul Guidance Shell, accurately shooting into that student's mouth.

The chalk spun as it went, drilling straight into his throat. The student instantly began gagging.

Wu Changkong said coldly, "Before talking about others, why not think about yourself first? If you were not trash, would you have been assigned to Class Five?"

Wu Changkong's cold and forceful aura instantly silenced the entire class.

"Continue."

"My name is Tang Wuyang. My Martial Soul is the Qilin, and I have Level 11 Soul Power. My goal is to become a powerful Soul Master who can protect my family."

The introductions continued, and soon it was Zhou Changxi's turn.

"I, I'm Zhou Changxi. My Martial Soul is the Great Strength God Ape, and I have Level 11 Soul Power. My goal is to become a strength-type Battle Soul Master."

After Zhou Changxi came his roommate, Xie Xie.

"Xie Xie. Martial Soul: Light Dragon Dagger. Eighteenth Rank Soul Power. Agile Attack System Battle Soul Master."

The moment the words "Eighteenth Rank" left his mouth, the entire class erupted in cheers.

Eighteenth Rank at nine years old—he was a true genius! And he was even a Battle Soul Master.

With just two more levels, he could enter the Soul Grandmaster realm.

Anyone who could become a Soul Grandmaster before the age of twelve could be called a genius.

However, Xie Xie's astonishing Soul Power Level was also the only highlight in the class.

Aside from him, even Yun Xiao's Level Twelve was considered high.

Most of the other students were Level 11, merely meeting the standard for enrollment. Their Martial Souls were also bizarre and varied, with almost none being particularly powerful.

Of course, Tang Wulin's Blue Silver Grass was still the worst. That seemed to have become an established rule.

"Starting tomorrow, classes will officially begin. My teaching methods will be somewhat different from those of other teachers."

"If you fear hardship, exhaustion, or pain, transfer schools or find a way to change classes as soon as possible. Those who remain, prepare yourselves mentally."

"Class dismissed."

Wu Changkong strode out of the classroom on his long legs, his posture straight and upright.

The instant his figure disappeared through the doorway, the classroom exploded with noise.

Most of the students were discussing their cold yet handsome teacher.

"Let's go. It's time to fulfill your promise." Xie Xie turned to Tang Wuyang.

Though it was still morning, there were no more classes today.

After all, today was only the opening ceremony. Formal classes would begin tomorrow.

"Fine." Tang Wuyang did not hesitate. He stood up and headed outside first.

Seeing this, Tang Wulin hurried after the two. Naturally, he could not rest easy letting his younger brother go out alone to fight someone.

Xie Xie neither objected to nor approved of Tang Wulin following them. He simply ignored him.

The moment they stepped outside, Tang Wuyang saw that the hallway was in an uproar.

In the distance, many upper-grade students seemed to be crowding around something as they headed out.

What were they doing?

Just then, a somewhat familiar voice rang out.

"Huh? Tang Wulin, Tang Wuyang?"

The brothers turned their heads, and a graceful figure had already arrived before them.

It was Liu Yuxin, the Advanced Department senior who had led them into the academy when they enrolled yesterday.

"Senior."

Upon recognizing her, a smile immediately appeared on Tang Wulin's face.

Tang Wuyang, who had been walking ahead, stopped as well.

The brothers had a favorable impression of this senior.

"Wulin, Wuyang, you're both in Class Five?"

Tang Wulin nodded. "My Martial Soul is Blue Silver Grass, a Useless Martial Soul. Naturally, I could only end up here."

Tang Wuyang added, "My Soul Power is only Level 11, even lower than my brother's. Of course I'm here too."

Liu Yuxin hurriedly said, "No, no, that's not what I meant. I mean, is Teacher Wu Changkong your class's homeroom teacher?"

Tang Wuyang nodded and answered firmly, "Yes!"

Liu Yuxin's beautiful eyes immediately lit up. "Wulin, Wuyang, I have something I'd like to ask you two to help me with."

Tang Wulin froze for a moment. "Sure!"

Liu Yuxin stuffed something into Tang Wulin's hand and said softly, "When you have time during class in the future, could you help me take some pictures of Cold and Arrogant God?"

"Oh, I mean your Teacher Wu, Wu Changkong."

"Cold and Arrogant God?" Tang Wuyang looked at her in confusion.

Liu Yuxin blushed. "You definitely don't know this, but Teacher Wu Changkong is the number one handsome guy in our academy. He's just a little cold."

"But whether it's the younger female teachers or the girls from the Advanced Department, they all like him very much."

"He originally taught in the Advanced Department too. I don't know what mistake he made, but he was transferred to the Intermediate Department, and he even became your class teacher. We all feel it's so unfair for him."

"But the academy has already decided, so there's nothing we can do now."

"Still, we all miss him very much."

"If you two brothers help us take some pictures, I definitely won't let you suffer for it."

Tang Wulin stared blankly. He hadn't expected Liu Yuxin to ask him to do something like this.

Tang Wuyang frowned slightly and hesitated. "Senior, isn't this a little inappropriate?"

Liu Yuxin giggled. "It's fine. There's nothing inappropriate about it."

"I can also tell you a few things about Teacher Wu. I'm sure it'll be helpful to you too."

Xie Xie followed behind Tang Wuyang. Seeing Tang Wuyang and Tang Wulin chatting with Liu Yuxin on their own, he had initially grown a little impatient.

But when he heard her say that, he immediately gave up on the idea of dragging the two away and started listening as well.

It was still very necessary to learn a little about that rather unusual class teacher in advance.